Improvement in devices for stringing and tuning piano-fortes



G. MORGAN.

DEVICE FOR STRINGING AND TUNING PIANO-FORTES. No.185,490. Patented Jan.23',1877.

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'UNTTED STATES PATENT lOEEIcE GERRY MORGAN, O F ANDOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FOR STRINGING AND TUNING PIANO-FORTES.

Specification forming part of'Letters Patent No. 186,490, dated January 23, 18?;1; application tiled October 16, 1876.

liquely in the frame, with a groove or slot in its lower side or wall; a string provided with a head, which lits loosely in the bore of the female screw; and an adjusting-screw, preferably provided with a blunt or flattened point, and a square head, made to fit the female screw, and arranged toscrew down on the head on the wire, all as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical sec tion through a pianoframe, showing the application of my invention, Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a View showing a `string provided with a head according to my invention.

Let A represent a piano -frame, on which the strings are strained. This frame may be of wood or metal, and may be constructed in the usual way. B B are the bridges on which the strings rest, and a, t are the guidepins, all arranged in the usual manner.

In place of the usual pins for holding and straining the strings, I sink holes in the frame obliquely, as shown, and thread them internally to form female screws b b, one for each string, as shown. In the lower side or wall of this female screw I cut a slot or groove, c, to receive the string G.

If the frame A is of wood, it willwbe necessary to provide a metal saddle, d, at the upper end of the groove c, to support the string C, and prevent it, when strained, from embedding itself in the material of the frame.

The end of the string (l is combined with or attached to a head, D, which is shown in Figs. l and as a short cylinder of metal,

reduced in diameter at the center to admit a few turns of the string, and perforated transversely at c c. This head fits loosely in the cavity of the female screw, and the string takes hold at the side, thus leaving the end free to be acted upon by the ad justing-screw E. This screw may have an angular head to receive a wrench or nippers, and it should fit snugly in the female screw b.

For the sake of room, the holes b b may be arranged alternately in two rows, as shown.

By arranging the holes obliquely in the frame the heads of the screws E E are directed conveniently toward the tuner, and the strain on the string is more nearly in the direction of its length than if they were ar ranged vertically. If arranged horizontally, or parallel with the string, the screw would interfere with the latter.

In attaching' the head D to the string, the end of the latter is passed through one hole, c, wound two or three times around the reduced central part, and then passed through the other hole e. The surplus may be cut ed.

After the head is attached, it is simply inserted into the female screw b in such a way that the string rests in the groove c. The screw E is now screwed down upon it until the desired tension is produced.

The method of attaching the head to the wire, as described above, is a good one; but I am aware that it may be done in other ways, and I do not confine myself' to that described.

I claiml. A head, D, attached to the end of the string, unconnected with the tuning-screw, but arranged to be operated upon by said screw, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The female screw or hole b, in which the head D plays, threaded on its inner surface, and provided with a string-groove, c, as set forth.

3. The piano-frame A, provided with internally-threaded holes b, arranged obliq uely, as set forth, and provided with stringgrooves c, all as and for the purposes specified.

4. The head D, provided with string-holes c e, and a neck or reduced central part, in combination with a string, C, and screwE, al1 arranged substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GERRY MORGAN. Witnesses:

J oHN M. SHIRLEY,` WARREN S. QUIMBY. 

